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Round Top in the distance beyond the Tahoe Rim.

MAP

Passing South of the Frog Pond Loop and crossing the foot bridge we begin ascending a hard climb up the drainage. You may not know it yet, but you are climbing towards a gap in the mountains 1.2 miles South of the Frog Pond junction, about half-way up to the top of the climb that provides long views East and South, as we will see.

I think I've noticed an anomaly between the USGS 7.5 map and the actual trail route here, at 2.11 miles South of Echo Summit, just to the North of the upcoming break spot.

It appears the trail has been rerouted to switch back around the Northeast side of the knoll that makes up the North side of the gap. The topo map shows the trail following the creek up the Northwest side of the peak to the gap. This reroute is just North of the gap in the terrain that serves as our vista, break spot, and backpacker meeting spot.

This reroute is not a problem for hikers to follow. It's just different from the trail route on the map.

This reroute would have been done to get the trail out of the active terrain along the creek drainage, as shown on the USGS topo map, onto more stable footing to better secure the trailbed. This route has changed much over the decades.

I'll check this section closely with map in hand next time I hike through. Your input on this would be cool.

Comments-Questions-Experiences in here?

The trail ahead winds between mountain tops surrounded by dense forests through a roller coaster of rises and falls.

But you will make no mistake about the nature of this hike being upward, compounded by short descents.

We move out of the drainage feeding Benwood Meadow below as we climb towards the Eastern-facing gap in the Western flank of Christmas Valley that will give us long views.

As we approach our break spot, about 2.14 miles South of Echo Summit, fine views of Round Top, about 11 miles South, open up through the trees. Round Top sits just Southwest of Carson Pass, outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

One of the two Sisters, the pointy peak to the right of Round Top, is also visible. When we   depart the Tahoe Basin at the Carson Gap, we must choose which trail we follow South.

The PCT runs to the left, Southeast of Round Top's massif while the Tahoe-Yosemite trail passes to its right, to the Southwest.

Looking to the East at where the South Upper Truckee River drains Christmas Valley. Round Lake and Dardanelles Lake sit within Christmas Valley.  Round Lake sits in the forest below the volcanic formation right of center. Notice that the terrain is volcanic on the Eastern flank of Christmas Valley, while the Western flank is composed of granite. Cool. This same type of interface also splits Brown Bear Pass, down South in the Emigrant Wilderness.

As we hike South along the rim of the Tahoe Basin on the Pacific Crest & Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route, we will exit the granite zone when we pass Showers Lake, and be hiking across volcanic terrain until we are well past Ebbetts Pass, except for small islands of granite, in this vast sea of high altitude volcanic debris.

Check out the view of this position from Down There.

Also check out these views of Round Lake and Dardanelles Lake. The Meyers trailhead is to the left in the frame, where the South Upper Truckee River flatten out in Christmas Valley. We will intersect with the Round Lake/Meyers trail that runs up through Christmas Valley about 7 miles further South, heading to the right in this view.

Break Time

This part of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail is shrouded in dense forest packed into a fold between the mountain ridges until the trail passes through a gap in the close forest and rock terrain to a clear overlook with views East and South.

This vista is complimented with an expansive flat littered with boulders and rocks providing excellent seating. Well, it is expansive compared to the "close-in" dense forest and rock terrain we are hiking through.

Excellent seating and expansive views make this flat location a natural break and meeting spot for hikers between Echo Summit and Showers Lake.

Lingering after Peter and Jason departed allowed me to meet Jan and Pat. Jan and Pat were out on an ambitious day hike. I believe they went out to the Sayles Junction from Echo Summit and back.

Pat is an astute observer of man and nature, and I enjoyed a lively chat with Pat and Jan. Jan and Pat demonstrate the value of this section of Tahoe to Yosemite Trail for day hiking.

You meet lots of good folks on the High Sierra trails.

Jan and Pat taking a break during what appeared to be an 8 to 10 mile aggressive day hike. I believe they were training and hiking themselves into condition to start backpacking sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

There are a lot of cool day hikers in the Meiss Country Roadless Area.

We had an excellent conversation. If you want to restore your faith in humanity, spend a few weeks on the Sierra trails meeting great people from California, the United States, and around the world.

Backpacking Trail Guide

North

Meiss Roadless Area to Echo Summit

Backpacking Trail Guide

South

Meiss Roadless Area to Showers Lake